US Navy’s ANTX 2017 technology demonstration kicks off

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City and Naval Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport are hosting the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) 2017 which kicked off August 14.

The ANTX 2017 theme is “Battlespace Preparation in a Contested Environment (BPCE).

ANTX provides a low-risk environment in which scientists and engineers may evaluate their technological innovations at the research and development level before their technologies become militarized and integrated at the operational level.

NSWC Panama City Division will host more than 30 displays and demonstrations along the pier as well as in the waters of St. Andrew Bay where unmanned underwater vehicles will be tested and demonstrated for ANTX attendees. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit SIX Detachment Panama City will conduct a pouncing demonstration in the bay waters Aug. 15, 2017 at 11 a.m.

Major defense contractors including Battelle, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), Northrop Grumman and Riptide will be demonstrating their capability to operate equipment together in a contested environment.

Aerial, surface and underwater vehicles will demonstrate advanced mission capabilities through a relevant operational scenario while communicating real-time mission performance to remote operations headquarters.

The underwater mission segment will focus on Proteus, an underwater vehicle developed by Battelle and HII’s Technical Solutions division. Measuring 25 feet in length and 64 inches in diameter and weighing in at 8,000 pounds, it can be operated in both manned or unmanned functions.

During the demonstration, Proteus will enter a battle space to deliver and launch multiple smaller unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) with unique roles in the overall mission objective. When launched, the Riptide micro-UUVs and REMUS UUV will execute unique mission plans according to their onboard sensors and payloads to investigate and prepare the contested environment.

While the event is closed to the public, members of Congress and the press are invited to attend ANTX 2017 in Panama City, Florida Aug. 16, 2017 at 1 p.m.